Fastener-attaching machine



March 2 1926.

Filed April 10, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet l March 2-, 1926 1,575,595

F. E. WARNER FASTENER ATTACHING MACHINE Filed April 10, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z9 L r w I 40 I v wumxto; $3 f 2M,

' March 2,1925; 1,575,595

F. E. WARNER FASTENER ATTACHING MACHINE Filed April 10, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z9 I I 53 J g4 44 JJ 65 3 76;; g6

March 2 1926. 1,575,595

F. E. WARNER mswmmn ATTACHING mcnrrm Filed April 10, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 4 March 2 1926.

F. E. WARNER FASTENER-ATTACHING- MACHINE Filed April 10; 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 2, 1925.

.UNI'TED STATES PATENT orrlca' FRANK E. WARNER, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR 'IO SCOVILL MANU- a FACTURING COMPANY, OF WATERB JEY, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- FASTENER-ATTACI-IING Macrame Application filed April 10, 1924. Serial No. 705,664.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, FRANK E. WARNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Fastener-Attaching Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In the setting or attaching of snap fasteners, such as glove and other similar fasteners, it is desirable that machines for performing the setting operation be as near as possible free-of all characteristics which have a tendency to impede their operation, either because of failure in the supply of fastener parts to the setting or attaching inechanisni of the 1nachine,.or because of improper feed of such fastener partspor jamming of the fastener parts while being fed, or of failure of the machine to properly position the fastener parts with respect to the setting mechanism, to the end that the operation of the machinemay, if desired, be continuous and may present no difficulties which entail a loss of time to the operator or which result in improper setting or attaching of the fasteners 01' complete failure of the setting of a fastener.

One object of this invention is to provide a machine for attaching snap fasteners or the like, in. which proper operation of the feed device for the fastener parts is assured, and which feed device is simple in construction and operationand is not apt to becomeinoperative due to breakage or other causes.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for actuating the mechanism for feeding fastener parts to setting position which, after having fed a fastener part to such position, will immediately, be partially withdrawn, thus leaving the fastener part free for the application of the material to which it is to be attached or applied and \Vll'l'Kll'fHVlllQ from proximity to such fastener part the push finger or pusher which ordinarily, in this type of machine, presents an obstruction to the easy positioning of the i'naterial.

A still further object of the invention is to provide. in a machine of this type, means associated with the setting mechanism for receiving and maintaining the fastener parts associated with these parts is a raceway adapted to receive fastener parts to be positioned upon the anvil, a chute com Inunicating with the raceway and adapted to supply fastener parts thereto, a movable abutment arranged in the raceway adjacent to the point of supply thereto of the chute and acting as a stop to prevent the entrance into said raceway from said chute of more than one fastener part at a time, a push finger or pusher arranged for longitudinal sliding"movement in said raceway and adapted to move fastener parts fed thereto from their point of introduction into the raceway to setting position upon the anvil and acting during this movement as a closure for the end of the chute, and means for imparting the desired movements to the plunger and pusher in timed relation. And the invention consists, further, in a modification of the. means for imparting movement to the pusher in timed relation to the movement ofthe'plunger, whereby the pusher will advance a fastener part to setting position upon the anvil and will then be partially withdrawn, and will thereafter he completely withdrawn and, returned to position. for feeding another fastener part to setting position upon the anvil after the fastener part already positioned thereon has been attached. The invention moreover includes automatic means associated with the anvil for maintaining the fastener part fed thereto in proper position thereon prior to and during the setting or attaching operation. as I will'proceed now'to explain and finally claim. 7

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the anvil, raceway and pusher, the parts being shown in the position assumed by them when a fastener part has been advanced to setting position upon the anvil. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section of the parts shown in Fig. 2, and with these parts in the same positions as in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3,

but showing the positions assumed by the parts when the pusher has been retracted for the purpose of advancing a fastener partfrom its point of introduction into the raceway to setting position upon the anvil. Fig. is a fragmentary side view of a machine similar to that shown in Fig. 1 but including feed hoppers and associated mechanism for supplying fastener parts to the setting mechanism, and embodying the modified form of pusher actuating mechanism hereinbefore referred to, the parts being shown in the positions assumed by them after a fastener part has been moved to setting position upon the anvil, and the pusher has been partially withd'awn. Fig. 6 is a View of parts of the machine shown in Fig. 5, but illustrating the positions assumed by the mechanism when a fastener is being set and the pusher has been withdrawn to a position corresponding to that shown in Fig. -l. Fig. 7 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the machine shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the means for positioning the fastener parts upon the anvil being shown in section and being the same as those shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Fig. 8 is a view ofparts of the machine as illustrated in Fig. 7, lcut showing the positions assumed by means for positioning a fastener part upon the anvil when a fastener is being set. Figs. 9 and are, respectively, a top plan view and acentral vertical section, greatly enlarged, of a fastener part such as is used with my machine.

The machine comprises a stand 1, carrying a table 2 from'which rises a head 3 having a bearing 4 in which is pivoted a lever or rocker arm 5 for operating the plunger 6, this plunger being vertically slidable in a bearing 7 carried by the head 3. The lever 5 is actuated through an adjustable link 8 and lever arm 9 by means of a stirrup 10 forming part of an arm 11 longitudinally adjustable in a clamp 12 carried by the lever arm 9. A stop 13 is provided for limiting the upward movement of the plunger 6 by contact with the lever 5.

Mounted upon the table 2 is a bed 14. carrying a pair of complemental guides 15 providing a raceway 16 to which the fastener parts are fed through the chute 17, and arranged to slide in this raceway is a pusher or push finger 18 having gibs 19 underlying and cooperating with the guides 15 and by which the pusher 18 is maintained in proper position with respect to the raceway and is held againstvertical movement.

This pusher '18 is actuted through a link 20 by means of a lever 21 pivoted at 22 in a bracket carried by the table 2 and adapted to be oscillated in timed relation to the reciprocation of the plunger (3 by means of a pivotal connection 23 with an adjustable arm 2st swivelled as at 25 to the lever arm 9.

Mounted in the bed 14 at its front end and held therein against rotation and against vertical movement by a set screw 26, is an anvil 27 appropriately formed at its upper end to accommodate the particular type of fastener used, and around this anvil and arranged for vertical sliding movement thereon is a sleeve 28 which forms a seat for the flange of a fastener part fed to the anvil. Arranged upon the sleeve 28 for vertical sliding movement with respect thereto and to the anvil is a stop member 29 provided with wings 30 extending to and in contact with the front of the bed 14, and providing a recess at 31 embracing the anvil and the sleeve 28 and forming a pocket into which the fastener parts are fed by the pusher 18 and which properly locates such fastener parts with respect to the anvil and n'iaintains this location of such parts, as will hereinafter appear. The sleeve 28 and stop member 29 are held normall in raised position by springs 32 and 33 respectively, and their vertical movement in both directions is limited by means of slots 31. and 35 respectively cooperating with a pin 36 can ried by the anvil and extending through these slots (see particularly Figs. 7 and 8).

Located in the raceway, adjacent to the point of introduction of the fasteners thereto from the chute 17, is a detent or stop and brake member 3'? provided with a stem 38 arranged for vertical sliding i'novement within a bore 39 in the bed 14 and held normally in raised position by means of a spring 4.0 surrounding a reduced portion 411 of the stem 38. Upward movement of the member 37 under the influence of spring 40 is limited by a stop screw 4-2 adapted to contact with the bottom of the bed A. As will l e. seen,- this stop and brake member normally projects above the bottom of the raceway and it serves two purposes. Its first purpose is to prevent the entrance of more than one fastcner part at a time into the raceway when the push finger is withdrawn to the posi. ion shown in Fig. 4;. Its second purpose is to prevent jumping ahead of the fastener part in the raceway when the push linger l8 moves forward to advance the fastcne. par to position upon the anvil. This springing or jumping ahead of the fastener part when contacted with by the push iingcr is due to its springy nature, as will be apparent by reference to Figs. 9 and 1t), and sometimes results in such premature advancing of the fastener part from its point of introduction as to permit a second fastener part to be introduced to the raceway from the chute. and to cause jamming of the push finger and consequently interruption of the operation of the machine, \Vith the use of the stop and brake member 37, it will be seen that suflicient frictional influence is exerted upon the fastener part to prevent it from jumping ahead, and this frictional influence is maintained until the push finger 18 has contacted with and depressed the stop and brake member. v

For the purpose of facilitating clearing of the raceway, should it become jammed, or obstructed, I articulate one of the guides by pivoting its forward portion at43 so that it may be swung horizontally upon i its pivot to completely open one side of the raceway. This articulated portion 43 of the guide 15 is held normally in alignment-with its stationary portion by means of a latch 44 in the form of a circular plate having a portion of its circumference slabbed off as at 45 and provided with a knurled button 46 by which it may be rotated. The portion 43 of the guide is held against upward movement away from the bed 14 by means of a lip 47 cooperating with a complementally formed portion 48 of the bed 14. It will be understood that by turning the latch 44 sothat its slabbed-off portion 45 is up, the articulated portion 48 of the guide 15 is free to be swung horizontally uponits pivot 43.

The operation of this form of the invention is substantially as follows :Assuming that the hopper (not shown), which communicates with the chute 17, is filled with fas tener parts, this hopper is rotated or actuated in any usual or approved manner to fill the chute with such parts. Now, ssuming that the parts of the machine are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, it will be apparent that the fastener parts are prevented from entering the raceway by reason of the fact that the discharge end of the chute 17 is obstructed and closed by the push finger 18. It is'first necessary to feed one of the fastener parts in the chute to setting position upon the anvil. This is done by the operator pressing her foot upon the stirrup 10 and through this pressure oscillating the lever arm 9 upon its pivot 9'. This movement will causethe plunger to descend and will at, the same time retract the push finger 18 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and will permit access of the fastener parts to the raceway. As hereinbefore pointed out, only one fastener part can enter the raceway be cause of the stop and brake member 37, which will hold it in. the raceway in line with the. point of discharge of the chute and will, through it, prevent other fastener parts from descending the chute. The operator then allows the stirrup, and with it the lever arm and other parts, to return to normal position and this return movement will. advance the push finger to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 andS, and will cause the push finger to advance the fastener part into proper position over the anvil, its proper positioning thereover being ensured by the pocket or recess 31 formed by the stop member 29, the push lingerat the same time again obstructing and closing the end of the chute 17. lVith the parts in this position and the fastener part in proper setting position upon the anvil, the operator thenpositions the glove or other article to which the fastener is to be applied with the fastener receiving hole preformed in it over the fastener part on the anvil by pressing the article upon the stop member 29 and thus partially depressing this stop" member. The operator, with the article so arrangechnext places the con'iplemental fastener part over the fastener part on the anvil with the article lying between the two, and holds the article and con'iplemental fastener part in this position while again exerting pressure through the stirrup 10 upon the lever arm 9, thus forcing the plunger down upon the complemental fastener part and by this means depressing the article, and with it the other fastenerpart and the sleeve 27, so that the appropriately formed upper end of the anvil passes into the fastener part .and clinches the complemental fastener part to set the fastener. Obviously, upon this sec ond application of pressure to the stirrup 10 and movement of the lever arm 9, the push finger 19 will be again retracted to the position shown in Fig. 4 and a fastener part will enter the raceway from the chute and be stopped by member 87, and when the setting operation is completed and the pressure upon the stirrup 10 is released, the parts of the machine will again assume the positions 7 shown in Fig. 1, this other fastener part will be moved forwardby the push finger to setting position upon the anvil, and the ma chine will be ready for another setting operation. r

Referring now to the modified form of the machine shown particularly in Figs. 5, (i and 7, it will be seen that I employ the same stand 1, table 2, head 8, bearing 4 lever 5, plunger 6,.bearing 7, link 8, lever arm 9, pivot 9, arm 11 and clamp 12, and also the anvil and raceway andassociated parts and all of these parts operate insubstantially'the same manner as the corre sponding parts of the machine just described. 111 addition to these parts, I mount upon the head 3, bracket 49 supporting a hopper 50. A chute 51 extends from the hopper for the purpose of discharging fastener parts complemental to those carried in the hopper 52 and chute 17, to a pair of jaws 53, carried by and slidable upon the front face of the bearing 7. These jaws 5?) are depressed in unison with and by the plunger 6, and are raised by means of a pin 54 carried by the end of the lever 5 and cooperating with fintener part to facilitate application to the fastener part of the article to which it is to be applied, and it is to this end that the modification of the machine,as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and T, is primarily directed. In detail, the movements of the push finger necessary to accomplish the desired positioning of the fastener part upon the anvil and the retraction of the finger, as above referred to, are as follows z-The push finger must be retracted to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6, must then move forward to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and and must immediately thereafter be retracted to the position shown in Fig. 5. To this end, instead of connecting the lever 56, corresponding to the lever 21, directly to the lever arm 9, I fix this lever 56 upon a shaft 57, and also mount upon this shaft 57 a bell crank lever 58 to the lower end of the arm 58 of which I pivot a link 59 provided with a cam slot 60 with which coacts a roller 61 carried by the lever arm 9. The upper edge of this link is shaped at 62 to provide a cam surface for cooperation with an abutment 63 carried by a bracket 6 1 mounted upon the table 2. The other arm of the bell crank lever 65 is formed with a cam surface (36.

normally engaging a roller (57 carried by the lever arm 9. A spring 68 connected to the lever 56 and to the bed 14: or other part of the machine tends to normally advance the push finger 1S and to exert pressure upon the link 59 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The operation of this modified form of machine is the same, so far as the operation of setting a fastener is concerned, as the operation hereinbefore forth, except that both of the fastener parts are automatically fed to setting position; but the actuation of the push linger 18 is modified as hereinbefore described in order to facilitate posi-' tioning of the article to which the fastener is to be applied, and this modified actuation and the movements of the push finger incident thereto are substantially as follows \Ve will assume that the parts of the mechanism are in the positions shown in Fig. 5, that a fastener part has been advanced to the anvil, that the push linger has just been partially retracted, that the article to which the fastener is to be applied has been properly located with respect to the fastener part upon the anvil, and that a complemental fastener part has been fed to the jaws 53 and pressure is about to be exerted upon the arm 11 to turn the lever arm 9 upon its pivot 9' for setting these two fastener parts and attaching the fastener to the article. When this pressure is applied to the arm 11, and the lever arm 9 is moved in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5, the roller 61, being in the position shown in the cam slot (30 of the link 59, will force the link 59 forward and will oscillate the shaft 57 and thereby move the lever 56 to retract the push linger. This movement continues with the roller 61. in the same position, due to the slight. overhang of the portion (59 of the cam slot 60, until the cam surface (32 contacts and rides upon the abutment (S3, at which point in the movement of the link 59, the link will be forced downwardly, and the roller 61 will ride up into the portion 70 of the cam slot (50, and will continue the movement of the shaft 57 and lever 56 and the retraction of the push linger 18, until the completion of the fastener setting operation and the assumption by the parts of the machine of the positions shown in Fig. (3. Now, upon releasing the pressure upon the arm 11, the lever arm 9 will swing back to its normal position as shown in Fig. 5, and in doing so will impart the following movements to the link 59, bell crank lever 58, lever 56 and push finger 18:-Under the influence of the spring 68, the arm 58 will exert sutlicient pressure upon the link 59 to cause it to follow the movement of the roller 61 with this roller in the portion 70 of the cam slot 60, and this position of the parts will be maintained to the completion of the forward movement of the push finger 18 to position a fastener part upon the anvil. It is at this moment of the completion of the forward movement of push finger 18 that it is desired to immediately partially retract the push linger, for the purpose above pointed out, and this retraction is accomplished by means of the roller 67 coming in contact with the cam surface 66 of the arm 65 of the bell crank lever 58 causing the bell crank lever to rock the shaft 57, retract the push tinger to the position shown in Fig. 5, and cause the link 59 to move forward so that the rollr 61 moves out of the portion 70 of the cam slot and comes to rest in the position shown in Fig. 5, where it remains until pressure is again exerted upon the arm 11 to move the lever arm 9, whereupon the same operations will herepeatcd.

It will be seen that by the provision of the brake and stop member 37, I prevent premature and improper advance of fastener parts to the anvil, and provide a sim ple sturdy and automatic stop for preventing entrance of fastener parts into the raceway otherwise than successively and sepatinganvil, a setting plunger, a raceway rately, as desired; that I afford, by means of the stop member 29, means whereby the fa tener parts are always properly located with respect to the anvil and are prevented from being displaced therefrom during the application of the articles to which they are to be attached; and that, by means of the arrangement of links and levers and their associated cams and rollers, I provide a mechanism for actuating the push finger, whereby ease of operation of the machine is assured and facility of manipulation by the operator of the articles to which the fasteners are to be attached is aflforded. In these respects, particularly, my invention embodies advantages, in machines of this char acter, not heretofore known, so far as I am aware.

Various changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts are contemplated as within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is 1, In a fastener attaching machine, a setcommunicating with said anvil, a chute com municating with said raceway and adapted to feed fastener parts thereto, a push finger cooperating with said raceway and adapted to advance to the anvil the fastener parts fed to said raceway, and a stop and brake member arranged in cooperative relation to said raceway and adjacent to the discharge end of said chute, said member adapted to prevent entrance into said raceway from said chute of more than one fastener part at a time and to frictionally engage sueh fastener parts during their initial movement by said push finger and until said push finger engages said member, to prevent premature movement of said fastener partsin sa1d raceway.

2. In a fastenerattaching machine, a setting anvil, a setting plunger, a bed arranged adjacent to said anvil and provided with a raceway, a chute communicating with said raceway and adapted to feed fastener parts thereto, a push finger cooperating with sa1d raceway and adapted to advance to said anvil 'fastener'partsfed to said raceway, and a stop and brake member carried by sa1d bed and normally projecting into said raceway, said member being movable out of normal position by cooperation therewlth of said push finger and capable when 111 normal position of preventing entrance into said raceway from said chute of more than one fastener part at a time and of applying a frictional retarding influence upon such fastener parts when moved by said push finger until said member is moved out of normal position by said push finger, whereby pre mature movement of said fastener parts is prevented.

3. In a fastener attaching machine, a

setting anvil, a setting plunger, a bed arranged adjacent to said anvil and provided with a raceway, a chute communicating with said raceway and adapted to feed fastener parts thereto, a push finger cooperating with said raceway and adapted to advance to said anvil fastener parts fed to said raceway, and a resiliently supported stop and brake member carried by said bed and normally projecting into said raceway, said member being movable out of normal position by cooperation therewith of said push finger and capable when in normal position of preventing entrance into said raceway from said chute of more than one fastener part at a time and of applying a frictional retarding influence upon such fastener parts when moved by said push finger until said member is moved out of normal position by said push finger, whereby premature movement of said fastener parts is prevented.

4. In a fastener attaching machine, a setting anvil, a setting plunger, a raceway communicating with said anvil, a chute communicating with said raceway and arranged to supply fastener parts thereto, a push finger slidable in said raceway and adapted to feed the fastener parts supplied to the'raceway from their point of introduction thereinto to said anvil, means for actuating said plunger to perform the fastener attaching operation, and means actuated by said plunger actuating means for imparting movement to said push finger, whereby upon the descent of said plunger said push finger will be retracted to a position adjacent to the point of introduction of fastener parts into said raceway and upon the ascent of said plunger will advance a fastener part fed to said raceway into position upon said anvil and then be partially returned towardthe point of introduction of the fastener part into the raceway.

5. In a fastener attaching machine, a setting anvil, a setting plunger, a raceway communicating with said anvil, a chute communicating with said raceway and arranged to supply fastener part-s thereto, a push finger slidable-in said raceway and adapted to feed the fastener parts supplied to the raceway from their point of introduction thereinto to said anvil, means for actuating said plunger to perform the fastener attaching operation, and means actuated by said plunger actuating means for imparting movement to said push finger, whereby upon the descent of said plunger said push finger will be retracted to a position adjacent to the point of introduction of fastener parts into said raceway and upon the ascent of said plungerv will advance a fastener part fed to said raceway into position upon said anvil and then be partially returned toward the point of introduction of the fastener part into the raceway, said means including VII a cam-link and lever mechanism and means carried by the plunger actuating means and cooperating therewith.

6. In a fastener attaching machine, a setting anvil, a setting plunger, a raceway communicating with said anvil, a chute communicating with said raceway and arranged to supply fastener parts thereto, a push finger slidable in said raceway and adapted to feed the fastener parts supplied to the raceway from their point of introduction thereinto to said anvil, means for actuating said plunger to perform the fastener attaching operation, and means actuated by said plunger actuating means for imparting movement to said push finger, whereby upon the descent of said plunger said push finger will be retracted to a position adjacent to the point of introduction of fastener parts into said raceway and upon the ascent of said plunger will advance a fastener part fed to said raceway Into position upon said anvil and then be partially returned toward the point of introduction of the fastener part into the raceway, said means including a cam-link and lever mechanism and vrollers carried by the plunger actuating means and cooperating therewith.

7. In a fastener attaching machine, a setting anvil, a setting plunger, a raceway communicating with said anvil, a chute com-- municating with said raceway and arranged to supply fastener part-s thereto, a push finger slidable in said raceway and adapted to feed the fastener parts supplied to the raceway from their point of introduction thereinto to said anvil, means for actuating said plunger to perform the fastener attaching operation, and means actuated byv said plunger actuating means for imparting movement to said push finger, whereby upon the descent of-said plunger said push finger will be retracted to a position adjacent to the point of introduction of fastener parts into said raceway and upon the ascent of said plunger will advance a fastener part fed to said raceway into position upon said anvil and then be partially returned toward the point of introduction of the fastener part into the raceway, said means including a bell-crank lever carrying on one of its arms a link provided with a cam slot and its other arm formed with a cam surface, rollers carried by said plunger actuating means and cooperating with said cam slot and cam surface, and resilient means for normally-advancing saidpush linger.

8. In a fastener attaching machine, a setting anvil, a setting plunger, a raceway communicating with said anvil, a chute communicating with said raceway and arranged to supply fastener parts thereto, a push finger slidable in said raceway and adapted to feed the fastener parts supplied to the raceway from their point of introduction thereinto to said anvil, means for actuating said plunger to perform the fastener attaching operation, and means actuated by said plunger actuating means for imparting movement to said push finger, whereby upon the descent of said plunger said push finger will be retracted to a position adjacent to the point of introduction of fastener parts into said raceway and upon the ascent of said plungerwill advance a fastener part fed to said raceway into position upon said anvil and then bev partially returned toward the point of introduction of the fastener part into the raceway, said means including a lever connectedwith said push finger, a spring arranged to normally pull upon said lever to advance said push finger, a bell-crank rigidly connected with said lever and having a link provided with a cam slot connected to one of its arms and its other arm provided with a cam surface, rollers carried by the plunger actuating means and cooperating with the cam slot and cam surface respectively, a cam surface on said link, and a fixed abutment cooperating with the cam surface of the link, the respective cooperation between the cam slot and its roller and the cam surface of vthe link and its cooperating abutment serving to retract said push finger, the spring serving to advance the push finger, andthe cooperation between the cam surface of the bell-crank arm and its respective roller serving to partially return said push finger, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9 day of April, A. D. 1924.

FRANK E. WARNER, 

